Northerly could be a world-beater, says Nichols

March 10 2003By Patrick Bartley

Picture: VINCE CALIGIURINortherly, ridden by Patrick Payne.

Greg Nichols, a former Australian racing official and now an important player in English racing, believes that today's Australian Cup favourite Northerly would be highly competitive in group races in Europe.

Nichols, the current chief executive of the British Horseracing Board, said it was time Australian racing took the plunge and took a horse of Northerly's calibre to Europe.

"For so long Australia and New Zealand have believed that their racing had been undervalued and underestimated by the rest of the world," he said. "Both countries have gone to Hong Kong with representatives and have fared very well. But it's now time to take the bigger step and head for Europe."

Jockey Patrick Payne last week said that Northerly would be "more than competitive" overseas.

Payne, who has ridden in Europe and is regarded as one of the toughest judges of horses, said: "I think if Northerly is put into his right race, which I believe is a two miles (3200 metres) weight-for-age race, he would be extremely hard to beat in any part of the world.");document.write("

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"There are horses in the upper echelon of world racing that can probably run a furlong (200 metres) quicker than him, but he's such a great stayer, he's able to sprint for a lot longer, so he takes the edge off his opponents' finishing run."

Nichols said Australians should put prizemoney to one side and show that their horses were competitive on the world stage.

"Northerly is a prime example and Might And Power would have been hard to stop," he said.

"I know the realities of travelling so far and the expense involved, but I would think multinational companies would love to sponsor a Northerly or whoever, under the Australian flag.

"We have a wonderful record of producing horses up to 2000 metres and when we get one that goes beyond that trip, let's show the world. It would do marvellous things for the Australian racing industry if they were to go to Europe and beat them in their own backyard.

"It wouldn't be easy. Their tracks are different. They turn left and right and you're coming up against some fine stayers in their own surrounds," Nichols said.

Northerly's trainer, Fred Kersley, said he agreed with Nichols, but had put all overseas travel on hold until the end of the autumn carnival in Sydney.

"To be honest, as far as overseas racing is concerned, all bets are off. We've got to win the Australian Cup and then get him to Sydney and race on in their very best races, so that's taking my focus at the moment," Kersley said. "Sure, I can accept the points about travelling to such exciting places as Europe, but you've always got to be mindful of travel sickness and to what extent a horse like Northerly is affected by such a long journey. And you'd hate something to happen."

Nichols, who has been involved in English racing for the past year after having senior roles in Australian racing, was at Saturday's Newmarket Handicap meeting at Flemington after speaking at the Asian Racing Conference in New Zealand last week.